Chit Chit finds purpose
Our partner works to reach trafficked women and girls with the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Myanmar. Yangon is the primary red-light area of Myanmar and Lashio and Tachileik in the north are high conflict zones where cross-border trafficking is rife. Our partners run drop-in centres in these areas, as well as weekly outreach into brothels, trafficking hubs and places of street prostitution. Everyone the team meets is invited to the monthly meetings, including owners of brothels, pimps, trafficked women and girls as well as their families.
Chit Chit’s story is not unusual. Her father died when she was a baby and when she was 13 her mother remarried. Unfortunately, her stepfather was very cruel. Under the instruction of her stepfather, Chit Chit’s mother sold her to a brothel by tricking her into thinking it was a waitressing job. Her mother sold her for $100 and Chit Chit was trapped for two years. She reached out to other family members for help to no avail. Eventually she escaped with a friend to Yangon during COVID. Without skills or money, she had no option but to start working on the street. This is where she came into contact with our partners through their outreach program. One of the trainers invited her to visit the drop-in centre and Chit Chit found a place that was loving and safe to share her life and trauma. She is now journeying through the process of deep healing, restoration and transformation. Chit Chit is no longer working in prostitution and is learning to make jewellery while receiving a stipend from the centre that enables her to manage her life. She experienced Jesus in a deep way when she chose to forgive her mother for selling her, and after that she chose to get baptised and give her life and her future to God.
In the wake of COVID-19 and the military coup, Myanmar’s poorest and most vulnerable communities have experienced an acute lack of income, a new wave of desperation and an outcry for help. This has led to great openness to the gospel. The red-light districts have become one of the primary trafficking hubs as young girls and women migrate to Yangon or are trafficked into bordering countries due to economic desperation. There are very few churches and Christian organisations to reach these young women and a severe shortage of Christian resources. Our partner’s drop-in centres are well placed to provide a sanctuary for trafficked women to experience the transforming love of God and hear the Good News. Along with supporting the drop-in centres and outreach program, Entrust supports the purchase of bibles, worship song books and Christian tracts.
Chit Chit is now in a safe and caring community, encouraged through worship and fellowship, growing in understanding of the gospel through Biblical teaching and has a new sense of hope and purpose for her life as she realises her worth and experiences the love of Christ.
(note: the project above is funded by Mission Enterprises (VIC) Ltd and is not tax deductible)
Student leaders growing in Christ
Alongside, life-changing work combatting human trafficking, our partners in Thailand have a deep desire to share the gospel. They are committed to disciple and nurture believers to grow in their faith while becoming positive influences in their communities. Through mentorship and fellowship, they encourage others to live out the gospel in their daily lives and spread the love and grace of Jesus.
Our partner runs a two-year full-time leadership program raising up leaders to influence all areas of society and impact them for Christ. Ministry is not limited to the church. Workplace ministry, business as a mission, serving in government, law enforcement, etc., with sound Christian perspective, is paramount to leading any society to Christ. The goal is to give these students as much overall experience as possible to be successful, seeking to equip them for success in life and ministry by teaching leadership principles and biblical character, instructing in Bible, Business, Vocation and Technology and teaching English language with cross-cultural awareness. Entrust is currently supporting 7 first-year students for the two-year course.
Recently, a 2nd year leadership student shared about their experience at a village gospel outreach.
“On the outreach, while conducting a house visit, I had an opportunity to encourage a believer in his home. He has children who are addicted to drugs. During our conversation, I shared my testimony about overcoming drug addiction and conveyed my belief that it was the prayers of my parents that played a crucial role in transforming my life. I encouraged him to persist in prayer and to trust in God. Before I could continue talking with him, he suddenly burst into tears. I believe he gained new strength through the encouragement.
Following that encounter, I noticed there was a grandfather in the house, having trouble hearing due to problems with his ears. I asked if I could pray for him and invited my friends to join in. As we prayed, I placed my hands on his ears and felt the power of God flowing through me, causing my hands to shake. Once the prayer concluded, without any verbal exchange, the grandfather exclaimed, “Very good! Now I can hear clearly.” Praise the Lord and thank God for using an ordinary person like me.”
Thailand is a strongly Buddhist nation (92% Buddhist, 5.4% Muslim), with just 1.2% declared to be Christians. Training leaders to influence the nation is a vital step to reaching into places unfamiliar with the gospel. Students come from a range of backgrounds, including many from rural communities. The comprehensive training, coupled with the desire to positively impact their friends, family, colleagues and community, make them ideal long-term agents of change when they return to their home village, assist in outreaches and eventually settle into a vocation. Students work alongside local churches and pastors on these outreaches and also support prevention staff running human trafficking awareness campaigns.
Students grow in their identity in Christ, personal character and biblical understanding, gaining skills for success in life. They develop confidence to share their faith and learn practical ways to bring Kingdom-centred change to their communities. The students leave empowered as leaders, equipped to find future employment and able to positively influence their workplaces.
(note: the project above is funded by Mission Enterprises (VIC) Ltd and is not tax deductible)